A 7-2 final score certainly didn’t reflect the significance of Kansas University center fielder J.C. Sibley’s diving catch in the top of the third inning Tuesday at Hoglund Ballpark.

But KU baseball coach Ritch Price didn’t forget about the sparkling snag that kept two Oakland University runners from scoring.

“He made a great play in center field,” said Price, whose squad improved to 10-7-1 with its third straight victory — including two against Oakland — during KU’s first homestand of the season. “That’s the reason we brought him in, because he’s an outstanding defensive player who can handle a bat.”

Like his eight KU teammates who had an official at-bat, Sibley came through with a hit in the Jayhawks’ three-run eighth inning. Yet it was his over-the-shoulder, diving grab near the warning track in the third that stopped Oakland from making Tuesday’s contest interesting.

While Sibley’s gem helped KU pitcher Mike Zagurski earn his second victory, Oakland center fielder Bryan Marulli helped build the Jayhawks’ lead with both a fielding and throwing error on what should have been a routine single by KU sophomore shortstop Ritchie Price in the second inning.

Both Andy Scholl and Travis Dunlap scored on Price’s rip to left-center. Scholl would have scored from third regardless, but Dunlap moved from second to third when Marulli allowed the ball to bounce past him. Dunlap then scored on Marulli’s errant throw to third, which also allowed Price, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, to advance to third.

KU junior catcher Sean Richardson, who raised his team-leading RBI total to 20 with three more Tuesday, added another run when he singled Price in from third to give KU a 4-1 lead.

“Were starting to get our confidence back,” Richardson said of KU, which ended its six-game drought with a victory Sunday over Creighton in its home opener. “We know we’re a good team when we play to our ability. We hope tomorrow to make it a four-game winning streak.”

Kansas meets Oakland again at 3 p.m. today. KU fans might want to watch Sibley in the outfield.

The junior from Henderson, Nev., joked that he was still adjusting to the cold climate in Kansas, but said he felt at home at Hoglund.

“I actually kind of took a step in because I thought it would be more right at me,” said a smiling Sibley of what happened on his sensational snag. “I had to adjust on it and go back as fast as I could.

“All the practicing we’ve done out here, you know the terrain and the surroundings. I feel pretty comfortable here.”

6Sports video: Baseball team triumphs despite cold

Sibley’s roommate, Richardson, said he was comfortable with Sibley in the outfield.

“He has a nose for the ball,” Richardson said of Sibley, who also made a sprawled-out grab in Sunday’s game against Creighton. “He’s not the fastest man, but he probably gets the best first step on a ball that I’ve ever seen.”

KU's Mike Zagurski delivers a pitch. Zagurski earned the victory Tuesday against Oakland at Hoglund Ballpark.